Day 299 -- Blessed Raymond Lull

When I saw where our blessed today was born, it brought a smile to my heart. Blessed Raymond Lull was born in Majorca, Spain in 1234. The Cursillo Movement was born in Majorca. I would love to make a pilgrimage there too!

Blessed Raymond Lull was a courtier in the court of King James of Aragon. He married Blanca Picany in 1257. In 1263 he received a vision of Christ crucified and was converted on the spot. He became a Franciscan tertiary. He worked to convert Muslims in the Iberian peninsula and North Africa. He tried to get the Vatican to take interest in this work, and he traveled throughout Italy, France, England and Germany, but came up empty handed. He learned Arabic and founded a school for Arabic study in 1276. He wrote over 300 works in Latin, Arabic, and Catalan on theology, logic, and philosophy. He also wrote poetry. Some people said he was martyred by being stoned in 1315, but there is no evidence to support this. When he died he had some devoted followers known as the Lullists. He is buried in the Church of San Francisco in Majorca. He was beatifed on February 25, 1750.

The Holy Spirit can give more grace through understanding than through believing, because believing serves to promote understanding. Believing is an instrument for understanding, whereas understanding is not an instrument for believing. This is what the prophet Isaiah meant when he said: ‘Unless you believe, you will not understand’ (Is. 7: 9).

Day 298 -- Saint Peter and Saint Paul

Today the Church celebrates the feast day of two of our first saints...Peter and Paul.

Saint Peter was born around the year 1 in Bethsaida as Simon. He was a fisherman by trade. He was the brother of Saint Andrew who led him to Christ. Jesus renamed him Peter which means "rock" to indicate that Peter would be the rock on which Jesus would build his Church. He is considered the first pope of the Catholic Church. He was martyred around the year 64 in Rome. He was crucified with his head down becuase he said he was not worthy to die in the same way as Christ.

Prayer to Saint Peter
O Glorious Saint Peter, because of your vibrant and generous faith, sincere humility and flaming love our Lord honored you with singular privileges and especially leadership of the whole Church. Obtain for us the grace of a living faith, a sincere loyalty to the Church, acceptance of all her teaching, and obedience to all her precepts. Let us thus enjoy an undisturbed peace on earth and everlasting happiness in heaven.


Saint Paul was born around the year 3 in Tarsus (modren day Turkey) as Saul. He was a Jewish Talmudic student and was a Pharisee. He was a tent-maker by trade. Saul persecuted Christians and even assisting in the stoning of Saint Stephen the Martyr. When he was on his way to Damascus, but he was knocked to the ground and was struck blind and was giving a message that he was persecuting Christ. This experience had a profound effect on his and caused his conversion to Christianity. He was baptized and changed his name to Paul. He began traveling and preaching in Jesus' name. He wrote letters to the churches to help and encourage them. They make up a large part of the New Testament. He was beheaded around the year 65 in Rome.


Prayer to Saint Paul
Great convert and Apostle of the Gentiles, you became Christlike and knew only Christ Crucified. Though extremely learned, you relied completely on the Wisdom received from the Spirit and taught from the abundance of your heart. Instruct modern evangelists - those who preach Christ to others. Let them realize that their actions speak louder than any words they may use. Teach them to use their talents in conveying their God-given message but to rely above all on the promptings of the Spirit. Amen.


Saint Peter and Saint Paul are patron of many dioceses, cities, ailments, and occupations, but I know Saint Paul as the Patron of the Cursillo Movement.

Saint Peter, a fisherman of Bethsaida, was chosen by Christ to be the foundation stone of his Church. Saint Paul, struck down on the road to Damascus, went from being a persecutor of Christians to the Apostle of the Gentiles. They both ended their life with martyrdom in the city of Rome. Through them the Lord “gave the Church the first fruits of the Christian faith. - Blessed Pope John Paul II, on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

Day 297 -- Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

"The glory of God is the human person fully alive."

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons was born around 130 in Smyrna in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). He worked and wrote against Gnosticism and he based his arguments from Saint John the Apostle. He is considered the first great Western ecclesiastical writer and theologian. He stressed the unity of the Old and New Testaments. He also stressed Christ's human and divine nature. He is a Father of the Church. He died a martyr for the Church in the year 202 in Lyons, France. His tomb and relics were destroyed in 1562 by Calvinists.


Prayer for Various Types of Christians
Father, give perfection to beginners, understanding to the little ones, and help to those who are running their course. Give sorrow to the negligent, fervor to the lukewarm, and a good consummation to the perfect.

Day 296 -- Saint Cyril of Alexandria

Saint Cyril of Alexandria was born in the year 376 and lived as a monk and priest. He was made bishop of Alexandria, Egypt in 412. He worked at the Council of Ephesus, which says that Mary is the Mother of God (hence the prayer below that he wrote). Saint Cyril fought against the heresy that there were two persons in Christ. He was a catechetical writer. Our saint today died in the year 444 in Alexandria and his relics are in Alexandria. He was proclaimed as a Doctor of the Church.

Prayer in Honor of Mary, Mother of God
Hail, Mary, Mother of God, venerable treasure of the whole universe, lamp that is never extinguished, crown of virginity, support of the true faith, indestructible temple, dwelling of him whom no place can contain, O Mother and Virgin! Through you all the holy Gospels call blessed the one whom comes in the name of the Lord. Hail, Mother of God. You enclosed under your heart the infinite God whom no space can contain. Through you the Most Holy Trinity is adored and glorified, the priceless cross is venerated throughout the universe. Through you the heavens rejoice, and the angels and archangels are filled with gladness. Through you the demons are banished, and the tempter fell from heaven. Through you the fallen human race is admitted to heaven. Hail, Mother of God. Through you kings rule, and the only-begotten Son of God has become a star of light to those who were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

QUOTES

"One builds the Church either as a teacher of the sacred mysteries, as one set over the house of God, or as one who works for his own good by setting himself forth as a living and spiritual stone in the holy temple, God’s dwelling place in the Spirit. The results of these efforts will profit such men so that each will be able to gain his own salvation without difficulty."

"By nature, each one of us is enclosed in his own personality, but supernaturally, we are all one. We are made one body in Christ, because we are nourished by one flesh. As Christ is indivisible, we are all one in him. Therefore, He asked His Father “that they may all be One as We also are one.”

Day 295 -- Blessed Jane Gerard

Blessed Jane Gerard was a Sister of Charity in Arras, France. She was imprisoned in 1792. In 1794, she was martyred by guillotine with Blessed Teresa Fantou, Blessed Francoise Lanel, and Blessed Madeleine Fontaine in Cambrai, France. She was beatified in June 1920 by Pope Benedict XV and awaits canonization.

Day 294 -- Saint Eurosia

Saint Eurosia was born to nobility and was promised in an arranged marriage to a Moor. Not wanting to get married, she hid in a cave, but the smoke from her fire gave her location away. She was dragged from the cave by her hair and martyred in the year 714. She was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1902. She is the patroness against bad weather and of Diocese of Jaca, Spain.

Day 293 -- Saint John the Baptist

In the calendar of the Catholic Church, we only celebrate three birthdays: Jesus', Mary's and John the Baptist. Today we remember the birth of the one who prepared the way for Christ, the one who was "unworthy to unloosen the sandals on his feet." John the Baptist's birthday is 6 months before Jesus'. We read this in Scripture too, when Mary Visited Elizabeth and John leaped in her womb. John began his ministry around the age 27, wore a leather belt and a hunic of camel hair, ate locusts and wild honey. He preached of repentance to the people of Jerusalem. He was imprisoned by King Herod and died around the year 30 as the victim of vengeance of the jealous Herodias and was beheaded and his head brought on a platter. His body was buried by his disciples. His relics are in Rome and France..

"John is born of an old woman who is barren; Christ is born of a young woman who is a virgin. That John will be born is not believed, and his father is struck dumb; that Christ will be born is believed, and he is conceived by faith." -Saint Augustine on the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Day 292 -- Saint Joseph Cafasso

Saint Joseph Cafasso was born in 1811 in d'Asti, Italy with a deformed spine to a wealthy peasant family. His name means whom the Lord adds. His uncle is on his way to sainthood: Blessed Joseph Allamano. He was ordained in 1833 and was a professor of moral theology at the college in Turin. He had many ministries in his lifetime. He was made the superior of the college from 1846 to 1860. He then became the retreat house director. In 1848 he became the pastor of Saint Francis Church and was a renowned confessor and helped to promote the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. He was friends with Saint John Bosco and they first met when Joseph was 12 years old. Saint John wrote a biography of our saint today. He also worked to reform prisons, ministered to condemned prisoners, and to improve the conditions in Turin. Saint Joseph died on June 23, 1860 in Turin of pneumonia, a stomach hemorrhage, and complications of his congenital medical problems. His will bequeathed everything to aid the ministry of Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo. Saint John Bosco gave the homily at his funeral. He was canonized in 1947 and is the patron of prisoners and prisons.

"We are born to love, we live to love, and we will die to love still more."

Day 291 -- Saint John Fisher

Today I prayed for our seminarians in our Diocese since our minor seminary in our diocese is named after Saint John Fisher. His name means God is gracious or gift of God. Saint John Fisher was born in 1469 in Yorkshire, England. He studied theology at Cambridge University and received degrees in 1487 and 1491. He was a parish priest from 1491 to 1494. He was the confessor to Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII. He became bishop of Rochester, England in 1504 and was known as an excellent speaker and writer. He was the tutor of young King Henry VIII. In 1527 he was asked to study the problem of Henry's marriage and became the target of his wrath by defending the validity of the marriage and rejecting his claim. Saint John Fisher was imprisoned in 1534 for the opposition and spent 14 months in prison without a trial. While he was in prison, in 1535 he was created a cardinal. He died a martyr on June 22, 1535 on Tower Hill in Tyburn, England. He was buried in the churchyard of All Hallows, Barking, without rites. His head was put on as an exhibit on the London Bridge to set an example, then thrown into the River Thames two weeks later. His relics are in Saint Peter's Church in the Tower of London. He was canonized in 1935 and is the patron of the Diocese of Rochester, NY.

"I condemn no other man’s conscience: their conscience may save them, and mine must save me. We should remember, in all the controversies in which we engage, to treat our opponents as if they were acting in good faith, even if they seem to us to be acting out of spite or self-interest."

Day 290 -- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Today we remember a pretty young saint: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. He was born on March 9, 1568 in the family castle of Castiglione delle Stivieri in Montua, Lombardy, Italy. He grew up in this castle. His father was a compulsive gambler. He was cousins with Saint Rudolph Acquaviva. From the age of four, he was trained as a soldier and courtier. He suffered from kidney disease, which he considered a blessing because he was bed-ridden with lots of time of prayer. While still a child, he taught catechism to poor boys. He received his First Communion from Saint Charles Borromeo. When he was 18 years old, he signed away his legal claim of his family's fortune to his brother and he became a Jesuit novice. He became a student of Saint Robert Bellarmine. During the plague outbreak in Rome in 1591, he helped the victims. He caught the disease and he died at age 23 on June 21, 1591. His relics are in the altar of Saint Ignatius Church in Rome. He was canonized on December 31, 1726.

He is the patron of: AIDS patients and care-givers, teenagers, and Jesuit students.


QUOTES
"There is no more evident sign that anyone is a saint and of the number of the elect, than to see him leading a good life and at the same time a prey to desolation, suffering, and trials."

"He who wishes to love God does not truly love Him if he has not an ardent and constant desire to suffer for His sake."


PRAYER
O Holy Mary, my Lady, into your blessed trust and safe keeping and into the depths of yur mercy, I commend my soul and body this day, every day of my life, and at the hour of my death. To you I entrust all my hopes and consolations, all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life. By your most holy intercession and by your merits, may all my actions be directed and disposed according to your will and the Will of your divine Son. Amen.

Day 289 -- Irish Martyrs

Today we honor the Irish Martyrs of the more than 260 people who died for the faith in Ireland between the year 1537 and 1714. Their beatification began in March 1915. Many were beatified on September 27, 1992.

Here is the story of some of the blesseds:

Patrick O'Healy was born in Leitrim and was a member of the Franciscan Friars Minor and was elected bishop of Mayo, Ireland in 1576. He died on August 31, 1579.

Margaret Ball was born around the year 1515 in Meath. She was a married lay woman in the Archdiocese of Dublin. She died in the year 1584.

John Kearney was born in 1619 in Tipperary. He moved to Belgium in 1638 and entered the seminary and was ordained in Brussels in 1642 as a Franciscan Friars Minor. When he was returning to Ireland in 1644 he was arrested in London and tortured and condemned to death. He escaped and went to France and made it back to Ireland. He taught philosophy and was the novice master and he lived as a wanted man for nine years. He was arrested in Tipperary in 1653 with the charge of being a Catholic priest. He was hanged on March 11, 1653 in Clonmel, Ireland.

Elizabeth Kearney was a laywoman in the Diocese of Cashel. She died on September 13, 1647 in Cashel.

James Murphy was a priest in the Diocese of Ferns. He died on April 14, 1655 in Wexford.

Let us always remember those men and women who came before us and defended the Catholic faith. Let us hope that we never experience an encounter like this, but the courage to defend our faith always.

Day 288 -- Blessed William Exmew

Blessed William Exmew studied at Christ's College, Cambridge and was a classical scholar. He was a Carthusian monk at the London Charterhouse where he was the vicar of the house and worked with Blessed John Houghton. He became procurator of the house in 1534; his vicar was Blessed Humphrey Middlemore. On May 6, 1535 they were denounced as traitors for loyalty to the pope. They and Blessed Sebastian Newdigate were arrested, chained to posts in prison for a few days. They were then moved to the Tower of London. The three of them, with Saint John Fisher, were tried for treason on June 11, 1535 when they insisted the pope was the head of the Church. They were all condemned to death on June 19, 1535 in Tyburn, England.

Day 287 -- Saint Marcellian

Saint Marcellian lived in the 3rd century who was born to pagan parents. He was the twin brother of Saint Mark. He may have been a deacon. He was imprisoned for his faith during the persecution of Maximian Herculeus. While he was in prison, he was received a visit from Saint Sebastian who encouraged him to not give up. He died a martyr's death by being pierced with a lance in the year 286. He was buried near the Catacomb of Saint Domitilla and his grave was rediscovered in 1902. He was added to the local calendars in the year 1969.

Day 286 -- Saint Emily de Vialar

Saint Emily de Vialar was born as Anne Marguerite Adelaide Emily de Vialar on September 12, 1797 in southern France. She was the oldest of three children and only daughter. She was baptized in secret and taught religion at home by her mother due to the anti-Church sentiment following the French Revolution. When she was 7 she was sent to Paris for her education and her mother died when she was 15 and she returned home. She managed her father's house until she was 35 years old and she privately devoted herself to a life of celibacy and prayer. She had a desire to enter religious life, but she argued with her father about it.

After receiving a large inheritance from her grandfather, Emily and three other women founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition on Christmas Day in 1832. The apparition refers to the appearance of Gabriel to Joseph telling him to flee to Egypt. In 1835 Emily and several Sisters arrived in Algeria to help the sick during the cholera epidemic and this began her dream of missionary work. In 1840 she tried to obtain papal approval of the Sisters, but there were politics between France and Algeria and the Church which prevented the recognition of the Community on March 31, 1862, several years after Emily's death. Emily was able to establish 14 houses, travelled, and sent missionaries where ever they were accepted. This put a heavy strain on her inheritance which was mismanaged by her financial advisor and in 1851 she was bankrupt. Because of this, the reputation of her and her Community suffered greatly. Emily moved them all and with the help of the bishop, Saint Eugene de Mazenod, she established a new motherhouse and began to rebuild her congregation. She was able to establish 40 houses in Europe, Africa, and Asia and the Sisters continue their good works today around the world. She died on August 24, 1856 in Marseilles, France. She was canonized on June 24, 1951.

"Since God does so much for me, what could I not do for Him?"

Day 285 -- Blessed Guy Vignotelli

Blessed Guy Vignotelli was born around the year 1185 in Cortona, Italy. He was a wealthy layman who was known for his works of charity for the poor. After hearing Saint Francis of Assisi preach, he gave away the rest of his riches and became a Fransiscan tertiary and Saint Francis received him into the Order himself in 1211. He was a priest and a hermit and lived in a cell on a bridge near Cortona. He died of natural causes in 1245 of the Franciscan convent in Cortona.

After reading his story I found it amazing that after he heard Saint Francis preach, he heard the Lord speaking and found his calling and vocation in life. I pray for that certitude in my life to know what the Lord wants of me.

Day 284 -- Blessed Helen of Poland

Blessed Helen of Poland was born in Hungary as Princess Jolenta around the year 1235. She was the niece of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and grand-niece of Saint Hedwig of Andechs, and younger sister of Blessed Cunegund of Poland. This sister raised her. She married the Duke and became the mother of three. She became a Franciscan tertiary and founded a Poor Clare convent in Poland. She was widowed in 1279. She retired to the Poor Clare convent in Cunegund with one of her daughters and Cunegund. Helen became the superior of the convent she founded just before her death, which was on June 11, 1298 in Gnesen, Poland. She was beatified on September 26, 1827.

Day 283 -- Saint Felix of Cordoba, Saint Anastasius of Cordoba, Digna of Córdoba

Saint Felix of Cordoba, Saint Anastasius of Cordoba, and Digna of Córdoba all lived in a double monastery of Tábanos.

Felix was a monk. Digna was a nun. Anastasius was a deacon. They were the first martyrs of Cordoba who were killed in 853 by their faith in order of the Moorish caliph.

Day 282 -- Saint Anthony of Padua

Saint Anthony of Padua was born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal to a wealthy family, but for Christ he became a poor Franciscan priest. He lived in a cave and only left to attend Mass and to sweep the monastery nearby. One day when a speaker didn't show up, his brothers pressed him into speaking and they were so impressed that after that he was traveling, evangelizing, preaching and teaching throughout Italy and France and he attracted crowds everywhere he went. He died on June 13, 1231.

He was canonized on May 30, 1232. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1946 and he is a beloved saint of the Church. Saint Anthony is the saint so many Catholics pray to help find lost items. Here is a description about that legend: "Long after Anthony’s death, his old prayer book was kept as a treasured relic, and one day it disappeared. People prayed for help in finding the lost item, a novice found it and returned it; he later admitted that he had “borrowed” the book and returned it after receiving a vision of an angry Anthony."


There are many prayers to Saint Anthony, but I liked this one the best "Prayer for Help to the Holy Spirit"
O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.

"Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions."

Day 281 -- Saint Ternan of Culross

Saint Ternan of Culross was a 5th century missionary bishop to Scotland. He founded the monastery of Culross in Fifeshire, Scotland.

Day 280 -- Saint Paula Frassinetti

Saint Paula Frassinetti was born on March 3, 1809 in Genoa, Italy to a pious family. All four of her brothers became priests. Her mother died when she was only 9 years old and turned to our Mother Mary as a maternal figure. One of her aunt's moved in to help the family, but then she died three years later too and Paula, at age 12 took over the household responsibilities. She attended daily Mass, and prayed her way through her house chores. She was not able to attend school, so when her brothers came home each night they would teach her what she learned and her father will help, so Paula actually received a good education.

At ago 20, she developed respiratory problems and moved in with one of her brothers. When she recovered, with her brother's help, they opened a school for poor girls. In 1834 a group of like-minded women founded the Sisters of Saint Dorothy (Frassinetti Sisters), a congregation dedicated to educated poor children. They soon opened more schools in Italy, and Portugal, and Brazil. They are noted for their work with the sick when the cholera epidemic hit northern Italy in 1835. The Sisters received papal approval in 1863. She died of pneumonia after many strokes on June 11, 1882. She is buried at the mother house in Rome. Her body was found incorrupt in 1906. She was canonized on March 11, 1984. She is the patron of sick people.

May God bless everyone who has found their particular vocation and those who are still discovering what God is calling them to.

Day 279 -- Blessed Amata of San Sisto

Blessed Amata of San Sisto was a Dominican nun who was assigned to Rome and helped found the Saint Agnes Convent at Valle di Petro in Bologna, Italy. She died of natural causes in 1270. Her body is in the chapel of Saint Clare in Assisi, Italy.

Day 278 -- Saint Columba of Iona

Saint Columba of Iona was born on December 7, 521 in County Donegal, Ireland to Irish royalty. He was a priest, preacher, and teacher in Ireland and Scotland. He was the spiritual teacher of many people, many who became saints as well. In 563 he travelled to Scotland and was exiled to Iona where he founded a monastic community and served as the abbot for 12 years. He and the other monks evangelized and converted many including the king. Legend says that he wrote 300 books. He died on July 9, 597 in Iona, Scotland. He is the patron against floods, of poets, Ireland, Scotland

"O Lord, grant us that love which can never die, which will enkindle our lamps but not extinguish them, so that they may shine in us and bring light to others. Most dear Savior, enkindle our lamps that they may shine forever in your temple. May we receive unquenchable light from you so that our darkness will be illuminated and the darkness of the world will be made less. Amen."

Day 277 -- Saint Victorinus of Camerino

Saint Victorinus of Camerino and his brother, Saint Serverinus of Septempeda, gave all their wealth to the poor and then lived as hermits in Montenero. He was ordered by Pope Vigilius to become bishop of Camerino, Italy. He died of natural causes in the year 543.

Day 276 -- Blessed Anne of Saint Bartholomew

When I read about Blessed Anne of Saint Bartholomew today I wanted to write about her and let more people know about her life. She was born as Anne Garcia on October 1, 1549 in Spain. Even though I do not know much about her life, she did a remarkable thing in my eyes...she was there for her friend. At age 20 she became a lay Carmelite and was under the direction of Saint Teresa of Avila. Blessed Anne became Saint Teresa's secretary and close friend to Saint Teresa and Saint Teresa died in Anne's arms.

Blessed Anne worked on the Carmelite reform in France and became the Prioress of the houses in Tours and Pontoise. She founded the Carmelite house in Antwerp, Belgium in 1612. She also wrote poetry and some has survived to today. She died in Antwerp on June 7, 1626. She was beatified on May 6, 1917 and awaits canonization.

"Silence is precious; by keeping silence and knowing how to listen to God, the soul grows in wisdom and God teaches it what it cannot learn from men."

Over the months and years, friendships have meant so much to me and to find a true friend is a God-given gift. The quote which I relate to most to about friendship is from Sirach 6. I thank the Lord every day for my friends.

"A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God find; For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself."

Day 275 -- Saint Marcelino Champagnat

Today's saint I have chosen is one I think my mom will like because of this saying I found: "To educate the children well, we must love them, and love them all equally." Saint Marcelino Champagnat was born on May 20, 1789 Lyon, France. At age 16 he entered the seminary and he was a student with Saint John Marie Vianney. He was ordained in 1816 and in 1817 he founded the Little Brothers of Mary (the Marists) which involved boys in their late teens who had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also helped teach and bring the Scripture to other young men. Today there are about 5,000 Marist Brothers in 72 countries. Their slogan is "A Heart Without Borders. He died on June 6, 1840 of natural causes. He was beatified on May 29, 1955. Two cures were to Mrs. Georgina Grondin in October 1939 from a malignant tumor in Waterville, Maine and the other was on November 12, 1941 to John Ranaivo from cerebrospinal meningitis in Antsirabe, Madagascar. He was canonized on April 18, 1999 by Pope John Paul II. The investigation was in July 1976 with the cure of Brother Heriberto Weber Nellessen, in Montevideo, Uruguay.


Other quotes I liked include:

"I can never see a child....without wanting to tell him how much Jesus Christ loves him."

"All to Jesus through Mary, all to Mary for Jesus."

"To educate a child....is to make him a good Christian and a good citizen."

Day 274 -- Saint Boniface

Our saint today is Saint Boniface who was born sometime between the years 673 and 680 in Devonshire, England. He was educated at the Benedictine monastery in Exeter, England and became a Benedictine monk there. He was a missionary to Germany in the year 719 and was assisted by several other saints: Albinus, Abel, and Agatha. They built churches were they had destroyed pagan temples. He was bishop then archbishop of Mainz and he reformed the churches in his See and also built religious houses in Germany. He ordained Saint Sola. He also restored and founded the Dioceses of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Franconia. He then evangelized in Holland, but when pagans attacked him and his companions, Saint Adaler and Saint Eoban, they were martyred on June 5, 754. His relics are in a monastery in Fulda, Germany.

"In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course. Let us stand fast in what is right, and prepare our souls for trial."

Day 273 -- Blessed Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad

Blessed Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad was born on June 4, 1870 in the Faglavik province of Sweden as the 5th of 13 children and her parents raised them in the Reformed Church of Sweden. When she was 18 she moved to New York to work to support her family back in Sweden. She studied nursing at Manhattan’s Roosevelt Hospital and she worked there as a nurse and a home care aide for the sick and aged. Her work took her to the Catholic Church of New York and her interest in the Church grew. She saw the Church as the closest place to Christ. She convereted to Catholicism and received a conditional baptism on August 15, 1902 by Jesuit priest Giovani Hagen.

She made a pilgrimage to Rome the same year and was confirmed there. She returned for a short time to New York and then went back to Rome to begin a religious life. She settled in the Carmelite House of Saint Bridget of Sweden on March 25, 1904. With permission from Pope Pisu X in 1906 she got permission to take the habit of the Brigittines. She worked to restore the Order in Sweden and Italy. She returned to Sweden in 1923 and cared for the poor and tried to revitalize the Brigittine movement there. She establised Brigittine foundations in India in 1937. And she saved Jews and other individuals persecuted by the Nazis by giving them refuge in Rome. She died on April 24, 1957 in Rome. She was beatified on April 9, 2000 and awaits canonization.

There is a local order of the Brigittines that I have never visited and I hope I will be able to get there soon on a very nice summer day.

"The Lord has called us from different nations, but we must be united with one heart and one soul. In the divine Heart of Jesus we will always meet one another and there we seek our strength to face the difficulties of life. May we be strengthened to practice the beautiful virtues of charity, humility and patience." Blessed Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad

Day 272 -- Saint Kevin of Glendalough

Today I write about Saint Kevin of Glendalough for two reasons. We celebrated the feast day today at work of Msgr. Kevin and I have been to Glendalough, and I think that was one of the prettiest parts of Ireland I visited.

Saint Kevin was born into nobility around the year 498 in Leinster, Ireland. He was baptized by Saint Cronan of Roscrea and educated by Saint Petroc of Cornwall. At age 12 he lived with the monks and then studied for the priesthood in Killnamanagh. he was a student of Saint Eonagh. He had many other saints in his life too: Saint Comgall, Saint Columba, Saint Cannich, and Saint Kieran of Clonmacnois. After his ordination he lived as a hermit for 7 years and word spread of his life of holiness that he began to attract followers, including Saint Moling. He founded the monastery at Glendalough in which he put relics that he brought back from a pilgrimage to Rome. He lived a life founding other monasteries and served as abbot for several years. He died at the age of 120 on June 3, 618.

"You were privileged to live in the Age of Saints, O Father Kevin being baptized by one saint, taught by another and buried by a third. Pray to God that He will raise up saints in our day to help, support and guide us into the Way of salvation."

Day 271 -- Saint Marcellinus

Saint Marcellinus is remembered today in the first Eucharistic prayer. He was a priest in Rome and noted for his piety. He was martyred in the year 304 in the Silva Nigra outside of Rome with Saint Peter by the persecutions of Diocletian. Constantine built a basilica over his tomb.

"The Church has always believed that the apostles, and Christ's martyrs who had given the supreme witness of faith and charity by the shedding of their blood, are quite closely joined with us in Christ" (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 50).

Day 270 -- Saint Iñigo of Oña

Saint Iñigo of Oña lived in the 11th century in Bilbao, Spain. He lived there as a hermit and monk in San Juan de Peña in modern-day Spain. He later served as the prior there. He reformed the monastery in Oña in 1029 at the request of King Sancho the Great. Saint Iñigo of Oña was known as a peacemaker and miracle worker. He died on June 1, 1057 in the monastery Oña. He was canonized by Pope Alexander IV in 1259.

I chose to learn a little bit more about Saint Iñigo of Oña today as I will be going to Spain in 70 days for World Youth Day. God bless all us pilgrims!